Nature and our connection with the natural world play a central role in the book. Which scenes and events captured the sense of the prairie the most vividly for you?

Book Clubs Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor Discussion
1

Nature and our connection with the natural world play a central role in the book, both in how Emily responds to the environment around her and in the destructive forces of the tornadoes, drought, and dust storms. Which scenes and events captured the sense of the prairie the most vividly for you?

2

The descriptions of the dust storms stood out most to me. We hear about and see the damage from tornadoes much more frequently :confused:. I don’t know a lot about the history of the prairie during the 20’s and 30’s, but was wondering if it was a fact that how the land was tilled contributed to the disasters.

3

I agree the dust storms are what I remember. I can’t imagine seeing that and dealing with the devastation afterwards.

4

I think what connected for me was the devastation of their home by nature Here one day gone the next.

5

I liked that even though there had been so much devastation between the dust storms, twisters, and drought, Emily still held on to her memories of how beautiful the prairie was before the devastation. The beauty helped her to hold on instead of giving up. It was so important to her that she pressed flowers, so she would have natures beauty in her home during winter and other difficult times.

6

When Emily first glimpsed the prairie. Her senes were overwhelmed with the expansive horizon. The tall grasses swaying in the wind. Of course the tornado with the winds, noise and unpredictability of it. The dust storms and the suffocating dust and grit.

7

Charla_W, great point. I thought the pressed flowers was so tender.

8

Joyce_Montague, You are right, I have read about the dust bowl before and it was several factors, primarily poor land management. This was two major things, the land had formerly had grasslands, this kept the limited moisture and protected the land, especially the topsoil. After WW1, the grasslands were completely removed and there was almost no crop rotation along with limited rain…all creating a terrible environment. What a horrible natural disaster. Thank goodness for books that help us to know about the past, now we just have to remember these lessons.

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9

Dee, thank you so much for your response. I feel more knowledgeable because of your detailed explanation!